Retention arm for gear racks

#This invention relates to gear racks, and more particularly, to a gear retention system for use with gear racks.

#Vehicle racks for carrying bicycles or other wheeled vehicles or sports gear (such as canoes, surfboards, etc.) need to secure the gear to the rack, to ensure that the gear does not get bounced out of the rack as a result of road conditions or sudden stops, etc.

#For example, with bicycles, there are two popular styles of securing bicycles to racks, particularly when considering roof racks. The fork mount style employs a receiving member on the rack that is adapted to clamp to the front fork of the bicycle. A disadvantage to this style is that the front wheel of the bicycle must be removed to attach the bicycle to the rack. Some people prefer not to have to remove the wheel. Another style employs a clamp that attaches to the bicycle's frame. Both wheels remain on the bicycle in this style. However, some cyclists are reluctant to use the clamping style racks, fearing that the clamps might damage the finish of the bicycle frame as a result of vibration during transport.

#FIG. 1 is a side view of the retention arm as mounted to a vehicle roof top bicycle rack;

#FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the mounting components of the retention arm;

#FIG. 3 is a view of the mounting components of FIG. 2, in assembled form;

#The system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a bearing that clamps to the cross bar of a sports gear rack, rotatably carrying a bicycle tire engaging arm thereon.

#Referring now to FIG. 1, a side view of the retention arm as mounted to a vehicle roof top bicycle rack, a vehicle 10 has a roof top rack system 12 mounted thereon, via standoff supports 14 (one such support being visible in FIG. 1). The standoff supports are suitably mounted at front and rear positions on the vehicle roof, and at left and right sides of the vehicle. A cross bar 16 is supported and secured between each of the left front and right front standoffs, and the left rear and right rear standoffs. An elongate ratchet arm assembly 18 rotatably mounts to the cross bar 16, and includes a toothed rack 20 along an extent thereof. A grip member 22 slidingly engages the rack portion, including a release trigger 24 thereon, and carrying a wheel hook arm 26 at an end most distal from the end of the arm assembly 18 mounted to the cross bar.

#A wheel tray 28 attaches to the front and rear cross bars, suitably extending at least at one end thereof some distance beyond the area bounded by the front and rear cross bars. A wheeled vehicle (such as bicycle 30, illustrated in phantom in FIG. 1) is suitably received in the wheel tray, and is secured in place by engagement of the wheel hook arm 26 with the tire on the bike wheel.